Buhari: Finally the messiah is here; or is he?

 by Joseph Rotimi

There is a wave of optimism and hope right now in the country as Nigerians think the new government of Buhari is capable of cleaning the Augean stable of Nigeria’s socio-political-problems. While this prognostication may be justified, it only tells half the story. Buhari might not be able to carry out the wide ranging reforms he promised and when the dust of victory and hand-over settles down sufficiently, there might not be any significant difference between what has gone before and what we think we are buying.

Nigeria’s foundation is faulty and we must not confuse a single political event with the total emancipation of the state. All the high expectations and positivity will yield nothing if Buhari is not a reformer and the fact that we are currently operating a democracy based on a less than stellar constitution could make reformation rather difficult. According to observers; Buhari is a frugal man who abhors ostentation, hates corruption and is sensible with resources. The Buharists are so sure that we would reach Utopia with the election of their hero that a regular online contributor said “What I can promise is that what Buhari will get right for Nigeria in the next four years will massively overwhelm whatever he is bound to humanly get wrong once in a while” This sets the unrealistic expectations of Nigerians against reality. In a democratic dispensation, Buhari might have been okay as the governor of his state but as a civilian President of the entire country he might just be a tad frustrated despite his best intentions. Added to this, Nigeria is interconnected with the international community, especially western nations that do not care a hoot if Nigerians live as people or as animals. It is guaranteed that Buhari’s best actions would be opposed vehemently by those benefitting from the chaos we currently have. Ruling as a no-nonsense military man is quite different from having to pass every edict or proposal through the legislature. Before long; Buhari might become the lonely politician, shouting himself hoarse above the noise of those fighting around him for the spoils of office.

A lot has been made of Buhari’s determination to fight corruption; but how do you battle such a monster on a lame horse, wielding a blunt sword, with potential Benedict Arnolds surrounding you? Nigerians generally do not hate corruption; they only hate the consequences. The same psyche drives the hawker who sells twenty Naira guguru for fifty and the oil barons holding the country to ransom today. Buhari may try to battle corruption but it will be selective. Buhari; some years back, in concert with a couple of other retired northern military heads of state suggested that Abacha did not misappropriate funds belonging to the Nigerian state. This means that all the monies recovered from Swiss bank accounts and other hidden accounts were probably being kept in trust by the Abacha family for the next generation of Nigerians. I have maintained elsewhere that Nigeria needs a strong hand to remake it into a nation and only a benevolent military dictator can accomplish this. Currently, there is no sense of nationhood. There is no rule of law and our infrastructure is pitiable. We lack concrete plans to achieve anything. We are just going through the motions of being a country. The educational system is bereft of purpose. Our professionals have lost their sense for creativity on the altar of survival and when this becomes impossible they quietly relocate elsewhere on the globe. Every so-called oga leads his place of work as a personal estate without accountability. Traditional rulers, who should be relegated to the background in a democracy, now determine who should ‘democratically’ govern. 

The main backers behind Buhari’s victory have questionable antecedents and will simply not melt into the background like a shadow – they are bound to try influencing things. Another noticeable but worrisome trend is the seeming overreliance of our new President on foreign powers. When western powers appear joyous or approve of our choices you can bet that their interests are being comfortably taken care of at our expense. The US, France and Britain have praised our elections to high heavens and even gave Jega a medal while Jonathan was, for a while, being touted as a Nobel Peace Prize candidate – well, I don’t buy it. For one, Buhari has indicated that he would reverse Jonathan’s decision not to go into military partnership with the US, and both France and Britain are giving all kinds of signals of wanting to do business with Buhari, maybe to stave off the influence of China and Russia. But when Buhari appeared uncooperative with western financial institutions during his initial tour of duty as head of state, his government was edged aside by a more IMF/World Bank friendly government headed by Ibrahim Babangida. It appears Buhari has learned his lesson and is ready to play the good boy since Idiagbon no dey. For Nigeria; I am afraid, it is not yet Uhuru.

Saraki Speaks About His Membership In APC Clement Ejiofor, Yesterday

Newly elected Senate President Bukola Saraki has blasted Lai Mohammed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, speaking about his decision on party’s membership.

Saraki described all those who claimed that he has plans of defecting from the ruling party to the opposition as his political opponents.

Senate President released a comment by his media office refraining from mentioning names, but it is considered to have directed his accusation at Mohammed.

It should be mentioned that APC spokesperson has defined the current composition of the leadership of the National Assembly, the Senate headed by Senator Olusola Saraki, and the House of Representatives, led by Yakubu Dogara, as pro-Peoples Democratic Party.

In answer to Mohammed and speculation making the rounds that he will return to PDP, Saraki rejected that he had a plan to defect to opposition, targeting the implications as “absurd and laughable.”

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He said: “It is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principles when the party was in power. Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return having worked so hard for my party in the last general elections.”

He noted his commitment to the APC, adding that he stays a loyal party member and a leader of the party.

Saraki advised all members of the National Assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of the day.

His words: “Our country is going through a very trying times. We have the challenge of insecurity in the North East. The massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by the falling oil prices in the international market and the consequential fall in revenue.

“All these are coming against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately. Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people, without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place.”

It would be recalled that the ruling party said the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogaraas Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives correspondingly, was totally unacceptable and treacherous.

PDP congratulates Saraki, Dogara, Ekweremadu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated newly elected Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as well as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

The party noted that their elections underscore the fact that no section of the country should be neglected on national issues.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Tuesday described the development in both chambers of the National Assembly as “victory for democracy and triumph of the time-honored value of the PDP that every zone and segment of the country must at all times be given a sense of belonging in governance”.

The PDP assured that it would continue to partner with like minds in other political parties and groups to ensure that the nation’s democracy, which it nurtured in the last 16 years is sustained in the overall interest of the Nigerian people.

“What is paramount to the PDP is the sustenance of our democracy and the wellbeing of our people, irrespective of creed, class or ethnicity. The PDP is therefore willing and ready to partner with like-minded individuals in other political parties and groups to sustain our democracy, ensure good governance and promote the unity and stability of our dear nation. Nigeria as a nation belongs to all of us. Its interest therefore must be put over and above personal, partisan or group interests at all times.

“In this regard, the PDP notes with gratitude, the immense contributions of the immediate past Senate President ‘the Baba of the National Assembly’, Senator David Mark for the decency and mature manner with which he ensured the smooth take off of the 8th National Assembly”, the party said.

The statement also commended the PDP Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus for successfully galvanizing PDP members in both chambers of the National Assembly, which contributed to the peaceful conduct of the elections.

The PDP charged its members in the National Assembly to continue to uphold the tenets of democracy and enforce the constitutionally vested parliamentary role of check and balances to ensure the much desired accountability and probity in the polity.

Finally, it urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop whining and accept the will of the people, respect the independence of the legislature, as the PDP is not responsible for their naivety and crass inexperience.